In a week where Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open for commercial trade—effectively ending its nearly seven-week de facto blockade of the critical shipping lane, President Trump imposed a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports to strangle its ability to trade. Trump vowed to continue enforcing what is effectively a U.S. siege until a peace deal is finalized.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, a ten-day ceasefire was announced: no bombs would be dropped, and no shots fired. However, Israeli military sources stated that troops would not withdraw from the south of the country, where they are establishing a security zone against the threat of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
President Trump told reporters that he believes both conflicts are nearing an end. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that if not, American weapons are “locked and loaded,” ready to destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure when its current deal expires in four days.
It was also a week in which Donald Trump challenged public perceptions, uploading an AI portrait of himself, only to quickly delete it. The image, drawing comparisons to optical illusions like the duck-rabbit or hotdogs-or-legs tests, depicted him in a Christ-like healer role. He claimed he was dressed as a doctor, following intense criticism from MAGA Catholics and other conservative Christians after he publicly criticized Pope Leo, accusing him of being weak on crime and nuclear weapons. The Pope has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump’s wars and immigration policies.
In Hungary, thousands celebrated late into the night on the banks of the Danube after a historic political victory against the odds. Peter Magyar, a government insider turned anti-corruption campaigner, won a landslide election, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure as Europe’s longest-serving leader. Orbán quickly conceded defeat, during which the European Parliament described his regime as a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy” that silenced critics.
Magyar, invited by Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok to form a government, immediately outlined plans for sweeping change. He announced intentions to suspend the state-owned broadcaster, signaling a dramatic shift in the nation’s media landscape.
Produced by Gavin Lee, Théophile Vareille, Daniel Whittington, Alessandro Xenos.
Our guests
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Vivienne WALT Time correspondent in Paris, contributor to Fortune and the New York Times DealBook
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Andrew YARROW Author and Historian, Former Speechwriter for the Clinton Administration
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Nina dos Santos Journalist, Co-host of the podcast "Ctrl, Alt, Deceit"
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Vendeline VON BREDOW Senior Germany correspondent for The Economist
English (US) · 